NEARSHORE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
Keep building.
We'll handle the developer
Need extra IT talent but no time to recruit? With nearshore software development from OrangeMelons you strengthen your team with experienced developers from North Macedonia and Kosovo: highly educated, in the same time zone, and always with a Dutch liaison who oversees the collaboration. The developer works fully inside your team and under your direction we handle the contract, payroll and HR. You scale fast, without recruitment hassle and without offshore risk.
NEARSHORE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
What is nearshore software development?
Nearshore software development means extending your engineering team with developers based in a nearby country in the same time zone not on the other side of the world. The developers work directly in your team, on your stack and tools, while a partner handles employment, payroll and HR. You keep full control over what they build; you skip the local hiring bottleneck.
For Dutch and Western European companies this solves a structural problem. There are over 500,000 open tech roles across the region, and senior developers in the Netherlands command salaries well above €74,000 a year before employer costs. Nearshore closes that gap: comparable seniority, same working hours, at a structurally lower rate.
Born from personal experience
Two of our founders are from the region and know the talent there from the inside out. When we were building a software product ourselves, we found the answer in developers from North Macedonia and Kosovo. Now we help other Dutch companies do the same.
Sound familiar?
Sometimes a project goes differently than expected. A developer leaves, the roadmap changes, or demand grows faster than your team can handle. That's when it's great to be able to switch gears quickly.
- Your development team is too small for the roadmap
- Good developers in the Netherlands are scarce and expensive
- A staffing agency feels too distant
- HR and recruitment cost time you'd rather invest in your product
We have the remedy.
We start with a Cultural Scan of your organisation. This allows us to truly get to know your way of working, your product, and your team. We select your developer on a tailored basis — technically and as a person. This recruitment is done at no cost to you. And even once the project is underway, we stay involved.
- Flexible scaling. We move along with your roadmap.
- Two markets, one link. With experience in both regions.
- Same time zone, strong talent. Highly educated and European.
- Quickly the right match. Personal recruitment, short lines of communication.
OUR PROCESS
Your IT vitamin in six steps
#1
Getting acquainted
A first conversation of 30 minutes with Bas or Gina. An open conversation about what you are building, where your team currently stands, and what is needed. Goal: to determine whether there is a potential match and whether we can genuinely help. If we don’t think so, we’ll say that too.
#2
Cultural Scan
This is where we make the difference. In an in-depth conversation we dive into your organisation: from clients and stakeholders to team dynamics, tech stack, and ways of working. We then translate this into a profile (persona) of the ideal developer. We don’t search by CV. We search by fit
#3
Selection by Agim and Gina
Based on your needs, we begin recruiting the right candidate. Because we have a large local network, we quickly get in touch with potential candidates. Gina conducts an initial online introduction and compiles a shortlist based on that. You receive a conversation report and CV for each candidate, so you can decide for yourself who you would like to get to know.
#4
Getting acquainted with the candidates
You get to know the selected candidates in a personal and/or technical session. You choose. We guide the decision-making process and give honest advice if we think a particular candidate is a better fit than another. Together we align on what the interview process will look like.
#5
Contractering & onboarding
OrangeMelons handles the contract, payroll, and all HR matters. You don’t need to dive into any of that. We also arrange a laptop for the developer.
You provide a warm welcome in your team. What can your new colleague expect? Who will they be working with? This way they can hit the ground running.
#6
Active guidance
After the start, we don’t disappear. Gina regularly checks in with you as a client and with the developer. We identify issues early, facilitate the collaboration, and step in when necessary. Our mission is to take as much off your plate as possible.
Get to know the countries where your next developer comes from. The answer often surprises people: right in the heart of Europe, less than 2.5 hours by plane from Amsterdam, in the same time zone. Our name is also a reference to this. Orange represents the Dutch part of our story, Melons represents the national fruit of North Macedonia. Two regions, one company. We’d love to take you on a journey.
MEET THE REGION
North Macedonia
North Macedonia offers a unique mix of Ottoman heritage, modern architecture, and a vibrant tech scene. Notably, 40% of our developers from North Macedonia are women, well above the European average in the sector. Since the seventies, the country has also been a popular holiday destination for the Dutch.
Our office is located in Struga, on the shores of Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe. We also have an office in the capital Skopje, the bustling heart of the country. Our CEO Ergin is from the region and has been living in the Netherlands since the nineties. In 2024 he swam 23 kilometres across the lake for charity. That commitment to the region is in our DNA.
On the desks in Struga and Skopje you’ll find both börek and stroopwafels. Within 2.5 hours by plane, your developer can be sitting at your table. Or you at theirs.
Young country, deep roots
Kosovo
Kosovo is the youngest country in Europe: independent since 2008 and with an average age of 29, also instantly one of the youngest populations. You can feel that energy.
Kosovo has a rapidly growing tech ecosystem and now ranks among the top of the IT Competitiveness Index of Emerging Europe. Urban life is contrasted with breathtaking nature: crystal-blue rivers, imposing mountain landscapes, and a popular ski resort that is also full of life in winter.
Our connection to the country is personal. Our CTO Agim is from the region himself: he knows the talent there not from a database, but up close.
Fun fact: Pop stars Rita Ora & Dua Lipa were both born in Kosovo. So the country is not only brimming with IT talent!
Our people, your success
More and more organisations are strengthening their IT team with our specialists. Curious who came before you? A selection from our fruit basket.
Ready to
move forward?
An idea that still needs shaping? A challenge you can’t solve alone? Or simply curious about the possibilities?
Our Melonheads are happy to think with you!
